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Organic Farmers

Earnings

Annual salaries for organic farmers vary each year, depending on the quantity and quality of the farm's products and consumers' demands for those products. Small farms that are new may not see much, if any, profit during the first few years of the business. Even farms that have been in business for many years, with a longstanding customer base, may see large profit one year and less profit the following year.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in May 2019, farmers and ranchers, including organic farmers, earned median annual incomes of $71,160, with the lowest paid 10 percent bringing home $37,530 per year, and the top paid 10 percent earning $132,760 or more annually. Since they include large established farms and ranches, these earnings figures are no doubt somewhat higher than those of the average small organic farmer.

The USDA states that most farmers receive off-farm income, however, small-scale farms depend on it. Off-farm means jobs away from the farm taken on to enable farmers to pay bills and have a separate stream of income less dependent on the weather and other uncontrollable conditions.